Harry Potter and the Angel of Justice

Chapter Thirty-Two - Upon the Death of Great Wizards

Instinct alone caused Harry to raise his wand.

"AVADA KEDAVRA!" he cried.

Harry's death curse flew at Lucius Malfoy; simultaneously another green flash slammed into his target from Ron's wand. Malfoy, like Mars, fell lifeless to the floor.

Harry and Ron grimaced at each other; Ron fell to his knees in tears. Harry gazed dully at Mars' prone figure.

"This is another dream," he thought. "Soon Mars will wake me and we'll be training again. Please, Mars, wake me up. Now! Please."

"Mars!" Padma shrieked as she threw herself on his body. She put her ear to his chest, listening for a heartbeat. "No, no," she whispered, and fell sobbing on Mars' shoulder.

Harry couldn't force himself to do more than look around the room. Ginny came up to Harry, looking lost as she mumbled, "He can't be, he can't."

Ron, still on his knees, stared blankly ahead in disbelief; Hermione was crying on the floor where she had fallen. Luna leaned against the wall, both hands on her forehead, breathing hard.

"HE'S GETTING AWAY!!!" screamed Ginny. She flicked her wand. A red stunner shot past Harry and struck the floor a few feet to his right. He turned and saw an enormous snake's tail slipping down the hole in the floor to the room below.

Ginny shook with fury.

"He's gotten away!" she shrieked. "He got away after he was beaten, and Mars is dead! ... Why? Because of her!" Ginny jabbed her wand at Hermione, knocking her up into the air. Hermione crashed to the floor, where she moved feebly, moaning in pain.

Ginny stormed over to Hermione and grabbed her by the hair, lifting her to her knees.

"You killed him! You interrupted Harry and got Mars killed! Are you happy? Happy that Harry didn't use Dark Magic to rid the world of Voldemort?"

Hermione's bloodied lips moved. "I'm-I'm devastated."

Ginny shrieked again and threw Hermione onto her back. She pointed her wand straight at Hermione's heart; her whole body convulsed with rage.

"Aaaiiie!" screamed Padma.

All eyes turned to Padma, who was crawling backwards away from Mars' body in panic. She bumped into Luna, who blinked out of her trance long enough to help Padma to her feet.

Something moved inside Mars' jacket, and a second later an enormous ruby floated up and away from his body and exploded into a cloud of glittering red dust. When the dust dissipated, Dumbledore was standing in front of Ginny and Hermione, with his back to Harry. He stood rigidly, and gripped his wand tightly. Even from his back, Harry could tell Dumbledore was furious.

"You've escaped from the Death Eaters' trap?" asked Ron, his first words since the fall of Mars.

"Death Eaters?" said Dumbledore with distaste. "No Death Eater, nor even Voldemort himself, could have held me that long. Mars was responsible! Where is he?"

"He's dead!" sobbed Padma, sinking to the floor again in despair.

Dumbledore turned toward Padma, but stopped when he saw Mars' body and took a step back in shock.

"Oh Mordecai," he said softly. "How can this be? Voldemort could have never defeated you. Especially not here, not at Hogwarts." Tears ran down the Headmaster's face.

"Voldemort DIDN'T beat him!" snarled Ginny.

"What happened?" demanded Dumbledore, turning back to her.

"She happened!" shouted Harry, pointing accusingly at Hermione.

"Explain."

Ginny recounted the duel between Mars and Voldemort. During her account, Luna walked shakily over to Mars' body, bent down and embraced him. Afterward, she returned to the wall and leaned against it for support.

"... she steps over Malfoy and screams at Harry, ruining his concentration again, but this time Malfoy jumps up, grabs her wand and punches her. He points her wand at Harry and casts the Killing Curse, but Mars steps in front of him," said Ginny, sobbing loudly. "Mars falls, and while we're all in shock V-Voldemort escapes!"

"But Mars was using Dark Magic. And he taught it to Harry!" said Hermione, rising unsteadily to her feet.

"Shut up!" shouted Ginny. "What do you know about fighting dark wizards?"

"Teaching those spells was evil," whispered Hermione.

Harry growled.

"You are so arrogant!" snarled Ginny, stepping toward Hermione. "Evil, was he? Do you know what his greatest fear was, Miss Dark Wizard killer?"

"What are you talking about?"

"He saw a boggart two months ago. His fear was you dying! Not Harry, not me, not Steele, but you!"

"But, but--why?"

"He shouted at the boggart, like it was a vision. He said that he would pay any price to prevent you from dying, Hermione. And now, thanks to you, he's paid the ultimate price!" Ginny stepped forward and struck Hermione's face.

Hermione stumbled backwards, barely keeping her feet. Ginny followed after her, then suddenly jumped back as if poked by a cattle prod.

"You are making this tragedy worse, Miss Weasley!" said Dumbledore forcefully.

"SHE MADE THIS TRAGEDY!" shrieked Ginny.

Hermione's expression showed total despondence. She looked down at Mars's body, then at Harry, who was scowling at her, and then finally into Ginny's murderous stare. Hermione then grabbed her own hair and started to scream. It was a pitiful scream of complete hopelessness and hysteria. She began to yank at her hair as though to rip it out by the roots.

"Hermione, stop it!" yelled Ron.

Hermione turned and sprinted for the doorway, where she collided suddenly with Snape, who had just entered the room. He instinctively caught her by the shoulders and looked down at her face.

"YOU!" she screamed and snatched herself out of his grip. She ran silently out of the doorway and down the hall. Snape stared at her in confusion.

"Why is she running like - oh my," said Lupin, stepping over the threshold and spying Mars' body.

Dumbledore looked down at Mars, and then his head snapped up.

"The visions! Harry, quickly. Do you have that map of your father's with you?"

"Yes," said Harry and he held it out.

"Remus," said Dumbledore. "Take that map you made and find Miss Granger immediately. She mustn't be left alone, even for a second! Take no excuses from her to get away. This is a matter of life and death."

Lupin quickly took the map from Harry, glanced at it, and ran out of the room.

Snape looked down at Mars' lifeless body. He turned to Harry and spat, "I told you not to put your faith in that fool, Potter."

Harry and Ginny growled and raised their wands at Snape.

"Severus," boomed Dumbledore angrily, "If you value your life, you will leave now and never mention Mars in front of me again!"

Everyone in the room--with the exception of Luna, who still stood blankly against the wall--stared at the Headmaster in shock. He was angrier than Harry had ever seen him, and was every bit as frightening as Mars in a rage. Snape actually shivered in fear before he turned and hastily left the room.

"Professor," said Ron cautiously. "Did you say Mars trapped you?"

"Yes," answered Dumbledore. "He did it the night he told me of his plan to trap and kill Voldemort. At the time I thought it was brilliant, but I insisted on taking his place in the fight."

"Why?" asked Harry.

"Because he told me there was a very good chance he would die after defeating Voldemort. His visions always had him winning, you see, but somehow he would die in the aftermath; he never knew why. He only knew that Miss Granger was involved, and that he had seen visions of her suicide many times.

"I am an old man, and my best years are behind me. Mars was not even thirty; just think of what his genius would have achieved if he had not been cursed - cursed in so many ways." Tears flowed again down Dumbledore's face.

"I insisted on taking the risk and facing Voldemort when he came for you, Harry. I wanted to ensure that Mars' brilliance would have a chance to develop to its potential. I will admit to also wanting the personal satisfaction of defeating Voldemort myself. My family has suffered horribly because of his enmity."

"Mars eventually agreed to my demand, but it was just a ruse. It put me in a good mood; for the first time, I was confident of victory. However, he took advantage of my lightheartedness. He asked me to look at a device for him: that ruby you saw. When I touched it I was transported inside and placed in the center of an enormous maze. I should have seen it coming, but it had been years. Normally I can escape from this sort of thing in minutes, but this was the best I had ever seen."

"You've been trapped in one before?" asked Ginny, who was somewhat calmer now.

"Yes, Miss Weasley. It was a very popular wizard game many years ago. I taught it to Mars while he was at Hogwarts. His official studies could never challenge him enough, and I didn't want his intellect to be idle.

"As good as this maze was, though, I should have been able to escape in no longer than eight hours, but each time I tried to move, I was opposed."

"How?" asked Ron.

"Mars was fighting me. His will fought my every step. When I willingly took his gem, I gave him power over me. It allowed him to thwart my movements, but it must have been a tremendous effort for him to contain me. I would have not thought it possible.

"Hours ago I felt Mars lift his pressure on me. I could finally move freely, so I started solving the maze. I imagine he let me go when the battle first started in the forest - he told me that you had foreseen that, Harry."

"He did look deathly ill for the last month," said Ginny sadly.

"Why did he -," asked Harry, but he was interrupted.

"I know there is much else you will want to know. Mars gave me all the details of his activities in Britain before he trapped me; it should explain a lot; but I must get you all to the hospital and find out the state of things. It is simply too pressing to defer," explained Dumbledore.

"Can't we stay up here with him?" asked Padma, who had finally risen.

"No, Miss Patil, that would not be wise. We need to leave now."

On their walk to the hospital, Harry noticed more suits of armor in the castle than he had ever remembered before. All of them saluted Dumbledore as he passed. The doors opened for them and closed behind them. Dumbledore seemed impressed.

"That activation charm had been lost for centuries," said Dumbledore. "I spent many nights researching it when I thought Sirius was trying to kill you, Harry."

When they entered the ward, Harry noticed that Luna was no longer with them. Professor McGonagall and a wizard he recognized from the Order of the Phoenix meetings were both unconscious in the first two beds. Madam Pomfrey quickly approached them; she looked terribly worried.

"Oh Albus, is it true? Have we lost Mordecai?" asked the nurse.

"Yes Poppy, my great-grandson is dead."

Ron, Padma and Harry dropped their wands.

"Keep the students here," Dumbledore continued. "Also, please send someone to fetch Luna Lovegood. The poor girl is delirious from a curse and wandered off from us. I have to leave now to find out the state of affairs all across Britain." Dumbledore turned and walked out the door.

Ron and Padma both followed Madam Pomfrey's instructions without protest and were soon in pajamas and laying down in bed. Harry and Ginny, however, peppered her with questions. The nurse refused to answer anything until they too had changed, were in bed and had taken the medicine she gave them. Once they were finally settled in, she would only confirm two things: Mars' name really was Mordecai Saunders, and he was indeed Dumbledore's great-grandson.

Harry looked over at Ginny and saw that she was already asleep, although just a minute ago, she had been fussing furiously at the nurse. He yawned.

"Poppy, can you please help me for a second. She needs to go," came Professor Lupin's voice from the next room.

The nurse looked at Harry, "Go to sleep Potter, it's the best thing for you." She then went into the next room.

"Hermione must be in there," he thought. "I wonder if she's all right? Hmm, I wonder if I care anymore? Why am I so sleepy? Drugged ..."

Harry then fell fast asleep. The potion that made him so drowsy also prevented him from dreaming. When he awoke Fleur was looking over him.

"Bonjour 'Arry," she said sweetly.

"Bonjour Fleur," replied Harry.

Harry put on his glasses and looked around. He saw that Ron and Ginny were awake and speaking with Charlie. Lily was silently sitting on Ginny's shoulder. Padma's eyes were open, but she was still lying down and looking sullen. When his gaze returned to Fleur he noticed that her eyes did not match the cheery tone of her voice. They were red and tired looking; Charlie's were the same.

"Are Bill and Steele all right?" asked Harry once he noticed they were not in the room.

"Yes Harry," said Charlie. "They're meeting with Dumbledore now. Once Poppy let's you leave we'll join them. I'm afraid they'll want you to relive some bad memories from yesterday. Bill and Sally will want a first hand account of what happened to--to Mars."

Fleur turned her head away from everyone.

"How about the others?" said Ginny as she hopped out of her bed, walked over to Harry's and sat on it. "Henri and Percy?"

Charlie asked Fleur if she would like to explain, but she shook her head and excused herself to go to the bathroom while wiping her eyes. Charlie sat down on Ron's bed, which was next to Harry's, and Padma came over and sat next to Ginny.

Charlie explained that at the beginning, the Battle for the Ministry went rather well. It seemed that the Donnies did not expect to have so many opponents. The first wave was driven back handily and then a small set of Defender shock troops snuck out of the anti-apparation field and appeared in the rear area of the Death Eaters. This was where Steele battled Dolohov and killed him. She brought back his wand and paraded around the other Defenders. The death of the enemy leader and the sight of his trophy drove the Defenders wild with blood lust. While Charlie was glad they were on his side, he felt uncomfortable being around them.

The rear attack put them into disarray and so Bill & Fleur lead an offensive that routed all of CADS and their allies. Fearful of enormous civilian and muggle damage the Alliance and Ministry wizards were led back inside. They all thought that Mars would be joining them soon and then the battle would be swiftly ended.

This delay gave Spikes his chance to regroup and gather some reinforcements, via the Imperious Curse. Hours later they resumed their attack. During this attack Steele was contacted by Mars and told that the Battle for Hogwarts had been won, and that he would be there soon. They waited, but never heard from him again. The Death Eaters last attack was concentrated in an area that then suffered a mass desertion. All forty wizards and witches from the Department of Law Enforcement ran away from their posts and the flank fell immediately.

The defenders were overrun and retreated deep into the Ministry. Many officials surrendered, only the aurors and the Spirit Defenders kept discipline and fought as they retreated. Soon they were split in two and Charlie saw Minister Fudge and Amelia Bones go down fighting.

"I thought our number was up," said Charlie as Fleur returned from the bathroom. "We were surrounded on every side and we couldn't disapparate to safety. I asked Sally for a kiss before we went to grave together and then prepared to make my last stand."

"What happened then?" asked Harry.

"Did she kiss you?" asked Ginny and Padma.

"Yes she did and a miracle happened. Dumbledore showed up and dispelled the anti-disapparation jinx. We felt it fade and then heard his voice ring through the air telling us to teleport away," said Charlie.

"Ze Alliance and the ze Defenders 'ave all rallied 'ere," said Fleur. "While we lost many in the ze battle, our enemy lost vairy much more. Ze 'ole army zat attacked 'ogwarts was destroyed. Ze majority of 'is Death Eaters were killed and all of their leadership aussi. Mais, we lost ze Angel. Je n'ai jamais pensé que c'était possible."

Tears again came to her beautiful face and Charlie got up and put his arm around her.

"Is Luna all right?" asked Ginny.

"Yes Ginny, she wasn't hurt, but she wanted to be left alone in her dorm. I think she is taking the loss very hard," answered Charlie.

"How about Hermione?" asked Ron.

Ginny growled.

Fleur stopped crying and gave Ginny a questioning look.

"Like we'd want to see her!" snarled Ginny.

Harry nodded.

Charlie and Fleur looked at each other in confusion, Ron looked miserable and Padma wiped away a few tears.

"Is my sister Parvatti okay?" asked Padma with a sniff.

"Of the staff and students at Hogwarts, only Hermione and Mars were hurt seriously," answered Charlie.

After lunch Madam Pomfrey allowed her patients to leave and they along with Fleur and Charlie headed to Mars' office. The students they passed in the halls were all very sad and most would not look at them. Harry became very depressed seeing the school in such bad spirits, it seemed even the structure of the Castle itself was in mourning.

"Harry, Harry! Stop!" came Heather Parkinson's desperate voice.

Harry turned and saw Heather and Mary running up to him. Both girls were crying.

"Is it true what they told us? That Mars died while fighting You-Know-You? Please say that it's not, please!" said Heather anxiously.

"It's not," said Ginny sharply. "Mars defeated Voldemort easily."

Heather squeaked at the mention of Voldemort's name and backed into Mary.

"He was then betrayed by one of his own students and he had to give his life to save Harry from the Killing Curse!" said Ginny angrily.

"What?" gasped Fleur, Charlie and Heather.

"Who betrayed him?" demanded Mary.

"Hermione Granger!" spat Ginny.

Charlie and Heather gasped.

"I cannot believe zat, Ginny," said Fleur quickly.

"She didn't do it on purpose!" replied Ron.

"But why would she do that?" asked Mary now who looked very mad.

"Mars used a Dark Magic spell to defeat a Dark Wizard and Hermione thought that it was wrong. She decided that she was more qualified to decide how to kill Voldemort," said Ginny viciously.

Heather again squeaked and ran behind Mary, putting a hand on her friends waist and looking over Mary's shoulder nervously.

"Hermione interrupted Voldemort's execution and said it was wrong! She ignored her prisoner, Lucius Malfoy, and then he recovered and took her wand from her. He then tried to kill Harry, but Mars took the curse instead. And Voldemort escaped in the ensuing chaos!" finished Ginny, who had worked herself up again.

"Stop saying that name!" whimpered Heather.

"Where's Hermione now?" asked Mary.

Charlie snapped out of his shock and said, "We need to leave for our meeting with Dumbledore, Bill and Sally."

"Can we come?" asked Heather earnestly. "We want to know what happened while we were locked up with the Ravenclaws."

Fleur said plainly, "No."

Heather and Mary both looked up at Harry hopefully; their eyes seemed larger than normal.Harry let the others get a little bit ahead of him and then waved for his students to follow.

When they reached Mars' office Harry opened the door. He let the others enter first and then then motioned for Heather and Mary to go next. The girls quickly slipped by him and ran to hide behind the wolf fountain.

Dumbledore was seated behind the desk while Steele and Bill were in front of it. Charlie and Fleur took seats in the front row of chairs while Harry, Ron, Ginny and Padma sat behind them.

"I know it's painful Harry, but I need you to now to retell the events you saw yesterday," said Dumbledore.

Harry nodded and started describing the day before; he began when they first saw Steele and Charlie flying over the forest. Ginny, Ron and Padma helped many times in the story, but when Harry got to the point where Mars apparated into the room Heather and Mary gasped loudly and Padma started crying.

Everyone looked over at the fountain.

"Miss Parkinson and Miss Sladen, I think you'll find your eavesdropping quite a bit easier if you sat over here," said Dumbledore as he pointed to the last empty chair to the left of Fleur.

Heather stood up immediately, but she had to drag the blushing Mary out from behind the fountain. Once Mary was exposed, the two first years scrambled over to the chair and both squeezed into it.

Harry next described the duel between Mars and Voldemort. Everyone seemed utterly amazed at each turn of events except Dumbledore and Steele. When Harry finally reached the point where Malfoy killed Mars, Charlie and Fleur burst into tears while Padma, Heather and Mary were sobbing - Steele and Bill, however, remained stoic. Their non-reaction seemed even sadder to Harry; the misery of the room pressed down hard upon him. He desperately wanted to leave and grieve upon his own for a while.

"My great-grandson was not the only casualty yesterday, let us not forget the others in our mourning," said Dumbledore.

The first year girls looked at each other with wide tearful eyes while Harry nodded at his Headmaster. Tears finally came to him. His mourning for Mars differed greatly than it had for Sirius. No one else seemed to really feel the loss of his godfather and because he alone had died, it seemed a very personal murder. The loss of Mars however was affecting the entire school and everyone was sad, not just Harry. Mars did not die a fugitive as had Sirius. He would be remembered for his great victory in the Battle of the Forbidden Forest and his defeat of Voldemort would become a thing of legend. A part of Mars would live on in all of them. Harry felt a cathartic wave pass over him.

"I now need to discuss a few matters with only the members of Mars' Alliance. Miss Patil you should go and find your sister, she is very worried about you," said Dumbledore and then he turned his gazed to the two first years sharing a chair.

"I have a word of warning for you two. If either of you harass Miss Granger over this tragedy, I will expel you both forthwith. Do not test me on this subject."

At first the girls tried to give Dumbledore an innocent look, but they then faded under his powerful gaze, averted their eyes and said in unison, "Yes, Headmaster."

As they left, Mary walked over to Ginny's chair and put her hands on Ginny's shoulder.

"I'm sorry about the message I gave to Padma. I didn't mean it, I was just so mad about being caught and locked away. I take it back," said Mary sadly. "I'm so sorry, Ginny."

Ginny gripped her hand and accepted the apology. Once the three girls had left the room, Dumbledore spoke.

"Mars explained many things to me the night he trapped me in the maze. I believe he knew it would be the last time that we would speak."

"When Mars first arrived in Britain he discovered from Professor McGonagall that Harry and Ron wanted to be aurors. He knew a NEWT in Potions was required of auror prospects so he went to the Wizarding Examination Authority and changed their OWL results so they both could continue to study the subject."

"What?" exclaimed Ron.

"I remember him asking me if I had received my results on that first night I met him. I wondered why he would ask," said Harry.

"But how did he do that? The tests are tamper proof aren't they?" asked Ginny.

"Yes, Miss Weasley, they are cheat and tamper proof, but the grade that Professor Marchbanks puts down is up to her. Normally, of course, she takes the marks recommended by the Examiners, but Mars used a Confundus Charm on her. He then convinced her to give Harry and Ron Outstandings on the two Potions and Astronomy OWLs. After she submitted the marks, a Memory Charm was used to make her forget," explained Dumbledore.

"Mars always was great with the Memory Charms wasn't he Bill?" asked Charlie.

Bill smiled warmly, "Oh yes, he hit McGonagall with one of those every other week when were in school. Mars sometimes got us caught just to see how hacked off he could make her before he zapped her memory," said Bill, now chuckling along with Charlie.

A stern look from Dumbledore stopped the laughing.

"Mars also revealed to me his use of Percy as a deep agent against the Death Eaters. Before that night only Mars, Percy, Charlie and Bill had any idea. Mars had caught Reynolds early in the Summer trying to curse a Ministry official, and decided to place the Australian under his control. Reynolds provided a lot of information, but his sanity was always in doubt. As he fought Mars' curse, Reynolds became more and more unstable, but Mars desperately needed to keep him in place.

"Percy provided the perfect solution. An ambitions and intelligent wizard, who was desperate to make amends. Mars trained him up in Occlumency and few combat methods before sending him to infiltrate the Death Eaters disguised as Reynolds. Percy told me they had some way of making the polyjuice potion last much longer than an hour, but he did not elaborate.

"Numerous plots were discovered because of Percy's mission, and many Death Eaters were eliminated. His performance under that kind of pressure was extraordinary, I'm afraid he may be difficult to live with for a while," said Dumbledore smiling.

"One of the plots Percy discovered was the bribery of many of the wizards from the Department of Law Enforcement. They were to desert when an attack was launched upon the ministry. Mars then spent the next two months tracking them down and placing them under the Imperious Curse," explained the Headmaster.

"He used Dark Magic on non-Death Eaters?" asked Harry.

"Yes Harry, it was a most disturbing piece of information. Mars never really believed the prophecy could keep him from killing Voldemort until the night of Bill and Fleur's wedding. He always thought he just needed to find him and blow him to bits. Once he was convinced that the prophecy did hold power over him, all his plans had to change. He worried that the Ministry may fall before he could setup Voldemort in a trap, so he bribed and cursed his way into control of many officials. Once in control of so many of them, Mars could weed out the spies that Percy had discovered from his espionage. Without this, the Ministry would have fallen many months ago," said Dumbledore.

"How many did he curse?" asked Steele.

"Forty."

"Forty?" said Bill in surprise.

"Yes, even he must have been drained by the effort. When he died, they were released and deserted their posts," said Dumbledore.

"That's when our flank collapsed," said Steele, whom Harry noticed was not nearly as sad looking at he would have suspected.

"Luckily you came and dispelled that anti-disapparation jinx," said Bill.

"But I still don't understand why he didn't let you fight Voldemort so he could help us at the Ministry?" said Steele.

"My guess, Sally, is that he didn't think I would survive," said Dumbledore.

"Steele," she said sharply.

"But you said he saw his own death each time!" exclaimed Harry.

"His ego knew no bounds, Harry; Mars probably believed he could cheat death yet again. He had seen himself die in visions many times before," answered Dumbledore. The Headmaster went on to explain Mars' visions of his and Hermione deaths and how he knew they were related. Dumbledore then mentioned Mars seeing the boggart and his greatest fear. Harry and Ron flinched at its mention.

"But if 'e knew 'Ermione was involved wizz 'is death, why pick 'er to be wizz 'Arry at ze end?" asked Fleur.

"Miss Granger would have never let Harry be without her when she knew he was in danger. Just like Miss Patil, Mr Longbottom and Miss Lovegood found a way to escape, so would have she. I am sure Mars felt more secure knowing her location," answered Dumbledore.

"Why didn't he ever tell us that he was your great-grandson?" asked Harry.

"He told me," said Ginny.

"He did?" asked Ron surprised.

"I asked him about his English family when I noticed he and Professor Dumbledore had the same eyes," she said looking at the Headmaster.

"When he started at Hogwarts we decided it was best to keep his relation to myself secret. Mars was different enough as it was. I saw no need to further complicate his dealings with other students by being known as the headmaster's grandson. A few teachers knew: Professor McGonagall, Madam Pomfrey and Professor Snape found out later," added Dumbledore.

"He told me in our second year. The following summer he told Charlie when Mars came to stay with us for two weeks," said Bill.

"Why did you and the nurse call him Mordecai?" asked Ron.

"That is his name Mr. Weasley. Mars is his nickname and initials. We now need to discuss your friend, Hermione Granger," said Dumbledore.

"She's no friend of mine!" snorted Ginny.

"Nor mine," agreed Harry.

"You are being very hard, and I think unfair, on Miss Granger. She has been a loyal friend to both of you for many years," replied Dumbledore.

"Mars could have used some of that loyalty yesterday!" said Harry fiercely.

"She certainly didn't wish for this outcome, Harry," said Dumbledore sternly.

"Outcome? Outcome?" shouted Ginny. "You make it sound like she cost us a Quidditch match!" Ginny was now standing and approached the desk. "Mars is dead! And Voldemort escaped. If she had kept her self-righteous mouth shut, the war would be won, the Ministry intact and Mars would be celebrating with us!" Tears of fury and sadness returned to Ginny's face and she sunk onto the armrest of Steele's chair.

Harry saw that emotion was now stirring in Steele. Her face looked similar to Ginny's except without the tears. Steele reached up into Ginny's lap and took Ginny's hand into her own.

"I am afraid it's not that simple, Miss Weasley. While at first I believed that Mars' plan to trap and kill Voldemort was brilliant, I now no longer think it could have succeeded," said Dumbledore.

"Why?" demanded Harry. "Voldemort was totally disabled and I would have cast the curse easily if it hadn't been for Hermione!"

"There are two reasons, Harry. The first being that I do not think violence will be what finally vanquishes Voldemort. My grandson was most likely the greatest master of violent magic the world has ever known. If he could not kill Voldemort by violent means, how could you?

"The prophecy clearly says that you shall have power he knows not. Lord Voldemort knows violence very well. I believe it's what's in your heart that shall defeat him," said Dumbledore sagely.

"His heart?" said Steele. "Is Harry supposed to guilt Voldemort to death?"

"I don't know how Harry will defeat him, Sally, but I am confident that he will."

"Hope for best? That's your plan?" snapped Steele crossly. "No wonder Angel finally abandoned your advice. Sit back and let the innocents die is all you seemed to have thought up!"

Dumbledore seemed insulted by Steele's last pronouncement. "Sally, I know you are upset, but divisiveness is exactly what is not needed at the moment."

"Angel was every bit as clever as you, Dumbledore. Don't try to cover your mistakes by claiming his plan was flawed. If that worm, Snape, had not poisoned Hermione's mind against Angel, she would have never doubted him when the crucial time came and Harry would have killed Voldemort. Snape is the cause of this! Angel should have killed him regardless of your will!" said Steele loudly as she stood.

"What you just said is another reason I believe it was the prophecy that thwarted Mars, not Hermione or Severus. If you asked Miss Granger whom she liked or trusted more, Professor Snape or Mars, do any of you really think she would chose Severus? Just as the prophecy saved Voldemort from Mars in Belarus and later at the warehouse in Leeds, I believe it also was the reason Hermione interrupted Harry. Even if violence could kill Voldemort, his defeat would have to be by Harry. He could not be beaten by Mars and then left for Harry to execute," said Dumbledore.

Dumbledore then looked sadly up at Steele and said, "I should have known that this was too early to discuss such painful events with you, Sally. I apologize for my insensitivity, could we please continue this discussion later?"

Steele's anger had not abated, but Harry could see her forcing it to the background. "Yes, Professor. Perhaps tomorrow after my family arrives will be a better time for discussion of the future," replied Steele stiffly.

Dumbledore bid them goodbye and left the room.

"Sally, sera-t-il d'accord avec nos demandes?" asked Fleur to Steele.

"Il n'aura aucun choix, mon amie," answered Steele.

After a few seconds Harry rose from his chair.

"I want to take a walk - outside," he said.

"Me too," said Ginny as she walked over to him.

Harry really wanted to be alone for a while, but after seeing how upset Ginny had been, he just couldn't ask her not to come with him.

"I'll walk with you to the front steps, Harry." Steele headed for the door.

Harry and Ginny followed after her. Once they arrived outside they were immediately approached by three unsavory looking Defenders.

"Steele, we've had enough. We're leaving," said one with a New York accent.

"You will leave when I order you to and not before," said Steele coolly.

"Oh yeah? Let me tell you something Steele, you're not Mars, you're not even close. You're just his cousin who had a sick crush on him," sneered the wizard.

Steele ignored the insult and replied calmly, "His journal clearly left me in charge. I am now the Supreme Commander, and you will obey. Do you wish to see his orders again?"

"I saw them fine the first time. I, and most of us, only agreed to leave the West or the South because of Mars. No one else could have made us come here."

"You left because you were ordered to leave. Now you are ordered to stay."

"I don't care what you order Steele."

"Do you defy me?" she demanded.

"I do," he answered weakly.

"Very well, the confrontation shall be now," said Steele. She began unbuttoning her jacket. The challenger had only undone a few his own buttons by the time Steele had removed her jacket and handed it to Harry. He looked more timid than defying as Steele glared at him on her way down the steps.

Defenders were now gathering near the bottom of the steps. Harry had no idea so many were at Hogwarts. Eventually the challenging Defender had his jacket off and walked down to Steele. He moved about twenty feet away from her and raised his wand over his head, Steele did the same.

The duelers stared tensely at each other for a few seconds and then both sprang into action. The challenger slashed his wand at Steele and a purple flame shot from it. Steele's legs both flew out to the side as she dropped to the ground in a side split; she leaned forward slashing her wand simultaneously. The defying wizard's curse flew several feet over Steele's head, while hers caught him directly in the chest. He put his hands over his heart and fell dead to the ground.

Steele sprang quickly to her feet and glared at the surrounding Defenders.

"Anyone else feeling defiant?" she shouted.

Her only answer was silence.

"Angel led us here to kill two witches and two wizards. The witches are dead, but it is up to us to finish the mission. We all owe him that much don't you think?" she asked loudly.

"Aye!" shouted the Defenders.

"Now, I demand two oaths from you all. First an oath of loyalty to me as the Supreme Commander," she said.

The Defenders looked nervously at each other and then dropped to their knees and swore their complete loyalty.

"Next a blood oath: To the deaths of Lord Voldemort and Peter Pettigrew or our own!" she cried raising her hand, that now held a sword, into the air.

The Defenders all swore the oath energetically. Steele then ordered them into the forest until the students were dismissed for the Summer.

"There are certainly are a lot of Defenders here now," said Harry. He handed the jacket back to Steele.

"There's more on the way darlin', I need more help than Angel did," she said with a touch of sadness.

"Are they going to complain about having to stay in the forest?" asked Ginny.

"No hon, it's a lot better than the desert they're used to. I'm afraid I have to say good bye for now, I need to see Henri." Steele then jogged into the forest.

Harry and Ginny walked out to Harry's favorite beech tree, sat down and stared at the lake. They said very few words as Ginny leaned on his shoulder and held his hand the rest of the afternoon. Both the peacefulness and Ginny's physical touch eased Harry's pain as he mourned his lost friend. He was such at ease under the tree, that he was loath to leave when night fell, but he knew they would be missed so he and Ginny went inside.

Even though they had skipped supper Harry was not hungry. Ginny kissed him goodnight and they both then went up to their dorms without speaking to anyone in the Common Room.

Chapter Thirty-Three - Aftermath

The next morning Ginny and Harry walked to breakfast holding hands. Just as Hermione's kidnapping had forced her and Ron to openly acknowledge their fondness for each other, the Battle of Hogwarts now did the same for Harry and Ginny. Harry smiled slightly as he remembered Cho telling him that the whole school thought he and Ginny were an item months ago.

Hermione and Ron were already at the Gryffindor table, but Ginny lead them to seats far from her brother. Hermione looked up at him and smiled weakly, but Harry turned away - he was still furious with her.

Soon the post owls flew into the Great Hall and a barred owl brought Harry his copy of the Daily Prophet. After he paid the owl and started to open the paper he heard Hermione call out to him.

""Oh Harry, don't read that. It will really upset you."

"Why? Has your ego caused the death of someone else he loves?" spat Ginny viciously.

Hermione burst into tears; she stood and ran out of the Great Hall . The other Gryffindors watched her in confusion. Ron threw his toast at Ginny, knocking over her cup and spilling pumpkin juice all over the table cloth. "Lay off her, Ginny. She's just as sad as you about Mars, you know!" He spun and sprinted after Hermione.

Harry opened up the paper and choked on his own pumpkin juice.

"What is it Harry?" asked Ginny as she leaned close to him.

The headline read "Minister Lennon awards Order of Merlin, First Class to Hogwarts Professor Severus Snape." The article went on to mention how he had

pretended to be helping Lucius Malfoy and led the Death Eaters into a ambush, which wiped them all out and saved Hogwarts. It also said that all of the Hogwarts

students would have perished if not for Snape's ingenuity and bravery. Lastly it quoted Snape as saying "Mars died dueling with his rival, the Dark Lord. I always knew it was Mars' ambition to replace him, but I never dreamed he would put all of his students' lives at risk while doing it."

Harry was devastated. He had only staved off his grief because he thought Mars had finally cleared his name as an outlaw. It was just unimaginable that anyone could believe that the greasy haired, yellow toothed Snape could be a hero. Snape getting the credit for Mars' sacrifice was almost as painful as watching Mars

die.

"How could they print such lies?" demanded Harry.

"Oh Harry, the next article is even worse," said Ginny.

"American wizard Mars shows his real colors are dark and not red!" said the headline. The article accused him of cursing half the ministry and bribing the other

half. "Fudge was nothing but his puppet," it alleged.

"But they were deserters! Muggles shoot deserters in war, would they rather he had killed them?" asked Harry incredulously.

"I told you he was a ruthless killer, Potter. I tried to spare you the harm Mars always brings to his adoring fans," hissed Snape's voice from behind Harry.

He and Ginny turned angrily around. Snape stood there leering down at them with the Order of Merlin medal hanging from his neck.

"You've got some nerve wearing that medal. You'd be dead if Mars hadn't sent Percy to save you!" spat Harry.

"Well Potter, I'll make sure to thank his corpse tomorrow at the funeral," replied Snape and he turned to leave.

Harry was furious, he began to jump up from the table when he heard the crack of a bone on bone collision. He saw Snape fall to the floor with Steele

standing over him. She had her wand in one hand while the other was balled up into a fist.

"When this war is over Severus Snape, I will kill you myself," hissed Steele. "Harass this boy or girl again and I'll do it earlier."

She turned to Harry and Ginny. "I'd like you two to come with me. My family has arrived from the West."

Harry and Ginny nodded.

Steele turned her back on Snape, as if daring him to try a cheap shot, and walked out of the Great Hall with Harry and Ginny following.

Once in the Entrance Hall, Steele headed toward three witches standing near the front doors. The witches were all tall and dressed in very expensive looking jade robes. As Harry got closer he noticed all three had gray eyes like Steele and long dark hair -- in fact all three were completely identical.

"Harry, Ginny. These are my younger sisters, Kelly, Kathy and Kerry."

After the introductions Ginny asked sadly, "Are you here for the funeral?"

The triplets did not answer, instead they looked up at Steele.

"They're here to help, Ginny, and they'll be here until their family duty has been done." Two of the triplets looked intimidated by Steele's words, but the third nodded confidently. "Did the twins come with y'all, or separately?" asked Steele.

Again two of the sisters looked timid, but the third, Kerry, Harry thought, spoke: "They're not coming, Sally. Both said they had too much going on."

Steele looked livid. "His only child! The only boy of this generation, and his father and only uncle won't come to Angel's funeral? I don't believe it."

"You know how they are," said the first triplet.

"Why wouldn't his father come?" asked Harry.

Steele flicked her eyes at Kerry and then turned away.

"Harry, the men in our family are - well, um, very odd," said Kerry.

"And that's the best of them, most are borderline insane," added Kathy.

"They're all tremendously talented, each at something different, but for centuries they all have been slightly or completely off their rockers," said Kelly.

"Except Mordecai, he alone seemed to have escaped the family curse," said Kerry.

"Curse?" asked Harry.

"We don't know why or when it started Harry Potter, but all Saunders boys are cursed at birth. As Kelly said, they are just incredible at what they do, but

they are totally incapable of taking care of normal every day things - especially finances or organization. Any kind of stress sends them right off the deep end. We, the Saunders women and girls, always have to handle most things for them, from when they are boys until they are old men," said Kathy.

"Mordecai seemed unaffected, so only one Saunders girl was sent to watch over him," said Kerry.

Steele turned to face Harry and Ginny. "I came with Angel to Britain when we were both four," she explained. "His mother insisted he be raised here. I was always with him until he went to Hogwarts when he was nine. We were separated until he got banished. I then joined him in the Spirit Defenders."

"You were assigned to take care of him when you were only four?" asked Ginny astonished.

"That is our family duty Ginny, our men are cursed so we take care of them. The burden of the curse must be born by all Saunders," said Kelly.

"I never thought Mars would need our help like this though," said Kerry sniffling.

"Harry," said Steele. "You will be staying at our headquarters for the summer." She then looked at her sisters, "As will you three."

"Not with the Weasleys?" asked Harry.

"You'll be with them, honey. They've already moved there," she answered.

"They have?" asked Ginny.

"Yes, Jo Anne Lennon has called for your parents arrest and I'm not sure how well the wolves will work after Angel's passing," answered Steele. "Harry, I have to teach and protect you - those are my last orders from Angel. But I cannot be as subtle as he - I am sorry."

"What do you mean?" asked Harry.

"Kerry will be responsible for you and Ginny, I know you hate this, but it's unavoidable. She's the least annoying of the triplets, so hopefully y'all will get

along," answered Steele.

Kathy and Kelly both glared at their older sister.

"You two follow me," said Steele as she left. They stalked after her.

Kerry Saunders turned out to be very polite and a lot like Steele, just not nearly as tense. Harry and Ginny learned a lot about Mars' American family and the curse upon them. They told Kerry many of their stories and by the end of the day gained a new friend. When Harry laid down in his bed that night, he wondered what the funeral of a great wizard would be like.

"Harry, wake up," whispered a young boy's voice.

"What?" demanded Harry groggily.

"Shh!" said Mark Evans. "Be quiet, Harry. Get dressed quickly and mind you don't wake Ron."

"Why?" whispered Harry. He sat up and put his glasses on.

"It's not safe to talk until we're outside the castle," whispered Mark nervously.

The serious look on Mark's face made him decide to trust the first year. They left the dorm together; When they entered the Common Room, Harry saw Mary Sue Sladen and a cross looking Ginny standing near the entrance.

"Harry, what is going - ," Ginny started to say.

"Shh," said Mary.

Ginny scowled and rounded on Mary.

"Please Ginny, just wait a bit," Mary whispered desperately,

Ginny turned from her and went over to Harry, and grabbed his hand.

Mark and Mary looked very tense as the four silently waited. After a few minutes Harry heard a quiet whistle from the other side of the painting. Mary nodded at Mark; he opened the entrance. As the door swung in, Harry saw the Fat Lady sleeping; she was snoring loudly. Harry and Ginny followed Mark and Mary through the doorway - Heather Parkinson was outside.

"The path is clear if not straight," came a dreamy voice from nowhere. "I'll lead the way. You lot follow Heather, step where she steps and make no sound. The sensors are illuminated and the sentinels neutralized, but we still have much to fear. They are all looking for us tonight."

"Who are they, Luna?" asked Harry in the direction he thought her voice was coming from.

Mark poked Harry in the back and put a finger to his lips.

Heather started down the hall minding her every step very carefully. She walked with incredible grace for an twelve year old. Mary followed her taking each stride exactly the same and then Ginny, Mark and Harry imitated Mary. After only a few seconds Harry saw Kerry Saunders laying on the stone floor, wand in hand and fast asleep. Heather passed her with scarcely a notice.

Every ten feet or so a patch of yellow could be seen glowing on the floor. Heather's path always steered wide of them. Their route meandered about the castle, but they encountered no one - even the oddly few paintings they

passed were sleeping deeply. Eventually Harry noticed they were in the North Tower and approaching the room that held such horrible memories for him.

"Why are we going here? Where Mars was betrayed and killed?" whispered Ginny angrily.

"Because it has the only safe way out of the castle," said the hidden Luna. "Hurry up and go inside."

They entered the doorless entrance and walked over to the holes in the wall caused by Mars' stunning charm.

"Lily, are you with Ginny?" asked Luna kindly.

Lily flew out from under Ginny's hair and landed on Luna's barely visible forearm. Harry saw a small glass globe appear, as if Luna had taken it out of her robe pocket. She was apparently holding it by a string that was looped into the ball.

"Once I get this lot into the sphere, take them to the cave entrance and wait for me, would you?" asked Luna dreamily.

Lily nodded and flew up to the largest of the holes in the wall.

"You know about the cave?" asked a surprised Harry.

"Yes," said Heather. "We'll explain everything once we get there."

"How are we supposed to all fit in that?" asked Ginny, pointing at the ball.

A potion bottle appeared where the disillusioned Luna was standing.

"Each of you take a sip of this and then quickly hand it to the next," said Luna. The potion bottle made its way into Heather's hand.

Harry saw Heather's robes move as if Luna had put her arm around Heather's waist. Heather took a swig of the potion and handed it immediately to Mark. Heather began shrinking. Within seconds she was tiny and standing in Luna's vaguely outlined hand. The globe moved over to the diminutive Heather and suddenly she was inside of it.

The globe floated over to Mark. Mark's robes moved as Luna now put her arm around him. He took a sip of the draught and passed the bottle to Mary. Soon he joined Heather in the globe. A few minutes later Mary, Ginny and Harry were also inside. Even though the glass ball swayed as Luna carried it to Lily, the inside of the globe was perfectly stable. The downy woodpecker grasped the string with her beak and took off into the outside air.

"Wow!" exclaimed Mark and Mary as they flew through the night sky.

Harry looked down and was shocked to see that the wolves of Mars were on the school grounds. One laid silent and alert staring at the Forbidden Forest while

the other walked toward the front gates.

"What are Mars' wolves doing here?" asked Harry as he pointed down. Ginny shrugged and shook her head.

"With Ginny's family fleeing their home, Mars thought his sentinel guardians would be of more use here," answered Mary.

"What?" shouted Harry in surprise.

"What are you talking about?" demanded Ginny. She grabbed Mary by the collar and dragged her close. Mary was too terrified to answer her.

"Ginny! Calm down. Mars is alive, we're taking you to see him," answered Heather gently.

Ginny was nose to nose with Mary when she demanded, "Are you serious? Because if you're taking the mickey about Mars' death, I'll strangle you right now!"

"I'd never joke about that," squeaked Mary nervously.

"It's true Ginny, he used some odd spell to escape right before the Killing Curse hit him," said Heather carefully.

Mary nodded desperately.

Ginny let go of Mary's collar and flung her arms around Mary's shoulders dragging her into a tight embrace. Mary's face still looked scared, as if she

were certain that Ginny was about to follow through on her threat.

"You kidding me," said Harry.

"No Harry, he sent us to sneak you two out to see him," said Mark.

"But why sneak us out? Why aren't we celebrating?" asked Harry.

"Because," answered Mary. "Mars said Professor Dumbledore had turned against him." Mary finally relaxed and hugged Ginny back.

"What do you mean?" exclaimed Harry.

"You'll have to ask Mars about it," replied Mary, stepping away from Ginny.

Lily flew into the dark tunnel and through it for several seconds before she landed in complete darkness. After a tense quarter hour wait, a light approached them. When it reached the globe they heard Luna say, "Amitto!" and she appeared. Luna tapped the globe with her wand, it vanished and all of its inhabitants slowly grew back to normal size.

"Snape is the knobbiest knob in the whole of knobdom," said Mark to the wall.

A portion of the wall disappeared and the group walked into the newly revealed cave. Luna led them to the back cave where Harry and Ron had learned the Killing Curse. As they entered the last cavern Harry saw a man in the middle of the room. He looked to be a few inches above six feet tall, thickly muscled and had very short brown hair. He was wearing a Ravenclaw school robe that stretched tightly across his massive frame.

"Harry, Ginny, you made it!" said an unfamiliar voice.

"Who are you?" asked Harry.

"It's Mars," said Mary.

"Look into my eyes, Harry," said the man.

As soon as Harry gazed at the man's twinkling light blue eyes he knew Mars was before him. Harry let out a scream of triumph. Ginny sprinted forward and jumped into the large man's arms. Ginny kissed Mars repeatedly across his face as she squeezed his neck with her arms; when Harry arrived, Mars embraced him in a rib bending hug.

"It is wonderful to see you both," said Mars aglow. "I was worried you'd be caught . The old man is on to me, I'm so relieved you made it through his security."

"Mars, how did you survive the Killing Curse?" asked Harry.

"A Death Trap Charm is my guess," came a voice from behind Harry.

As the students turned to see who had spoken, they heard an incantation: "Dismissio!"

An orange light surrounded Mars and forced him backwards. He screamed as his knees started to buckle.

"NO!" yelled Mark Evans, pointing his wand at a figure in the doorway, it was Dumbledore.

"Leave him alone!" demanded Mary. She too aimed her wand at the Headmaster.

"No!" yelled Mars. "Do not interfere. Our disagreements do not involve you!" Mars fell to his knees in anguish as the orange light penetrated his skin.

"Yield to me Mordecai, it will ease the pain," offered Dumbledore.

"Never! You chose this path of estrangement and defeat. I shall not help you. I know I will lose this battle, but my strength will return," replied Mars angrily. Mars dropped to his hands and knees and howled in agony.

"Why are you doing this?" demanded Harry - anger built up inside him.

"Do not judge him by how he treats me, Harry," panted Mars painfully. "My differences with my grandfather are not your concern. He loves you as much as I, but he is misguided. You must all promise me to always trust your Headmaster. I will soon be gone and no one else has the power to defeat our enemy."

The orange light surrounding Mars disappeared and he started to breath normally again. "Promise me now, all of you!" demanded Mars as he stood.

They reluctantly promised.

"Why will you be gone?" asked Ginny.

"I am banished again. I had no strength to defy him. I am spent from creating my new body," replied Mars sadly.

"Why are you doing this, Professor? Why would you banish your grandson again? Aren't you happy he's alive?" asked a confused Harry.

"Don't you love him?" asked Ginny.

Dumbledore walked up the group, his wand was still aimed at Mars.

"I love him more than he will ever know, Miss Weasley. I am very happy to discover he survived, but he is much too dangerous to stay in Britain," answered Dumbledore.

"I'm too dangerous?" said Mars fiercely. "You're the one responsible for CADS taking over the Ministry and all the lives lost in that battle. You kept Snape

alive and his lies to Hermione kept her from trusting me. Your mistakes have killed thousands and let Riddle escape death yet again. How dare you call me dangerous to Britain!"

"I've made mistakes my son and I accept the responsibility for them," answered Dumbledore somberly.

Mars looked into his great-grandfather's eyes. "You really are scared of me aren't you? You honestly think that I would harm the only land that I love?"

"Yes. You would not mean to Mordecai, but you still would. You are far more dangerous than Lord Voldemort could ever be," replied Dumbledore. He moved his eyes away from Mars.

Mars looked devastated by these words and tears began to pour down his face. Harry could not believe Dumbledore would say such a thing. How could he think that?

"If you hate me so, why has your spell not yet compelled me to leave?" asked a dejected Mars.

"I've given you time to let your students and comrades know you are alive and to say goodbye to them. You will leave when the students go home for the Summer on Saturday," replied Dumbledore.

Mars head raised and some color returned to his face.

"Thank you. I can see your decision is merely misguided and not malicious, but you will pay for your treachery when I recover," said Mars quietly.

Dumbledore smiled slightly at the threat. "While you're speaking with your Defenders tomorrow, you can order them home with you. I'm sure they themselves want to return," said Dumbledore.

Mars glared at his grandfather. "So this is the reason for your mercy. Tired of Britain being overrun by foreign mercenaries, are you?"

"You know they do not belong here. Sally cannot control them as you did," said Dumbledore forcefully.

"You underestimate her. None of them are her match."

"No single one I agree, but who does she have to help her lead them in the war? What does she know of Britain?" asked Dumbledore.

"Charlie'll help her, he likes Steele," piped up Ginny.

"So will we!" said Harry.

"And us!" added Heather. Mary and Mark walked up beside her.

Mars smiled at them, but Dumbledore glared at his great-grandson.

"I will not allow this, Mars," said Dumbledore sternly.

"You can't stop it or you wouldn't have asked me to do it for you. There are simply too many Defenders already here. You'll just have to learn to coexist with Sally. And don't forget Bill, he's now the leader of the Alliance, Sally will take orders from him if I instruct her to," replied Mars who was starting to leave the cave. "Coming Headmaster?" he asked in a voice that somehow had become a bit cheerful.

Dumbledore managed a small smile, and started following him.

"I'm impressed you've mastered the Death Trap Charm, Mordecai."

"I wouldn't call casting it once mastering it."

All of the students exchanged very confused looks at the sudden friendliness between the two great wizards. They followed Dumbledore and Mars listening carefully to the conversation.

"I have never heard of another casting it successfully."

"Tenskwatawa, has done it several times. I learned it from him," said Mars.

"In the same way you learned glyphs from that ghost in Egypt who used to work for Ramsieve?" asked Dumbledore.

"No, Tenskwatawa is still alive in Ohio. He's used the charm a few times to you know, get a younger body," said Mars with disgust.

"Oh dear, how's his mind held up?" asked Dumbledore.

"He wasn't really all there in his first body. It was hard work getting useful information out of him. By the way, how did you know almost immediately that I had escaped alive? I figured I had at least until tomorrow before you got suspicious about the lack of a Morsmiraculumni," asked Mars as they rounded the lake and neared the castle.

"When I went to move your old body to the mausoleum, I couldn't find your wand. I know the anti-theft enchantments you've put on it over the years would prevent almost anyone from being able to take it, so I strongly suspected you had been in the room," answered Dumbledore.

"I pocketed it when you were listening to Ginny retell my duel with Riddle."

Dumbledore nodded; they stopped just outside of the Front Doors. "So, your idea that a well placed Conjuring Charm could be used to stop Avada Kedavra proved to be true?"

"Yes, but the timing has to be perfect. It saved me several times this year."

Dumbledore looked impressed. "I insist on you staying in my office for the night, Mars. At breakfast tomorrow, I'll announce the cancellation of the funeral and why. We'll start the end of the year feast early in celebration. I suppose you wish to speak with your students before we retire?"

"Yes, and without your presence if you don't mind," said Mars.

"Very well, you have ten minutes," replied Dumbledore and then he left for the stairs.

"How can you be so nice to him after what he did to you?" asked Harry once Dumbledore was away.

"I'm already banished, Harry, I cannot reverse it until my strength returns. There's no point in being rude. He could have easily made me leave without

saying goodbye," answered Mars.

"Don't tell me you've already forgiven him?" asked Harry.

"Oh no, Harry. I'll never forgive him for sending me back to those wastelands," replied Mars with misty eyes. "He's tearing you all away from me ... it would have been kinder to kill me." Mars wiped his eyes and smiled at his students, his eyes still filled with sadness.

"Why were Luna and these three helping you instead of us?" asked Ginny.

Heather and Mary glared at her.

"Luna was my transport body, Ginny. I stayed in hers when I fled my own. She and I are very in tune and I knew my presence would bother her the least of my students. These three troublemakers," said Mars smiling, as he gestured at the first years. "Saw her acting weird and kept a twenty-four hour a day watch on her. I needed Luna to get out to the caves to create my new body, and Mark spotted her on the first trip. On Luna and I's next visit to the caves, I caught all three following Luna and decided to get them to help."

"Why not tell Steele?" asked Ginny.

"Sally? Do you really think she could keep my being alive a secret? She would be furious with my grandfather for forcing me into hiding. If you think Hermione can throw a tantrum, you should witness a few of hers. I thought about having Kerry help, but it seemed better to let them all think I was still dead. Sally needs to step out of my shadow for a while anyway.

"And speaking of Hermione, I saw how horrible all of you have been treating her! Knock it off this instant! Snape and my grandfather are the ones to blame for Riddle's escape, not her," said Mars sternly.

"But she caused all of this -," Harry started saying.

"Enough! I told you to forgive her and I expect my students to follow orders," interrupted Mars. "In fact tomorrow, I want all you to approach her and tell her you don't blame her for this. And afterward, you should each give her a consoling hug, she looked like she could really use one, last I saw her."

"Hug? Her? I doubt she'll even let me," said Mary crossing her arms.

"I don't want to hug her, Mars," said Heather indignantly.

"Well neither of you have a choice in this matter, you will do it tomorrow. I also don't want you two to ever tease her about this, she already feels bad enough," said Mars glaring at the girls.

Mary shrank from his gaze, but Heather bravely asked, "Can we still call her a bossy know-it-all?" She flashed a mischievous grin up at Mars.

"Well, she deserves that, but lay off until next year, all right?" said Mars grinning back.

"Dumbledore told us that your plan wouldn't have worked. He said he didn't think violence could kill Voldemort," said Harry.

"Yes, he told me the same idea when I arrived. It does fit the prophecy, but so did my plan. Harry, you would have killed Riddle if you hadn't been interrupted. The Headmaster is just trying soften the disappointment you feel."

Harry nodded.

"Lily, will you be staying with Ginny now?" asked Mars, looking at Ginny's shoulder.

The small bird nodded her head.

"But, but, why?" asked Ginny anxiously.

Mars growled irritably.

"What?" asked Harry.

"I've just been reminded my ten minutes were up. I have to go now," said Mars. "Ginny, Lily has no choice of who she falls in love with, it just happens. She may stay with someone for decades, or just a few months. She'll be your devoted friend until she falls for another."

"Love?" asked Harry confused.

"But you can't go back to America all alone," insisted Ginny. A few tears were falling down her face.

"I'm dangerous, remember. Maybe I should be alone?" said Mars bitterly. He turned and left.

On that depressing note, the students said goodnight to each other and went off to their dormitories. Harry laid in bed awake stewing over Mars' banishment. He just couldn't understand why Dumbledore considered Mars so dangerous. He heard Ron stirring. Harry pretended to be asleep and listened to Ron get dressed and leave. He figured Ron was off to meet Hermione. A few minutes laster he heard Seamus, Neville and Dean moving; Harry then acted like he too had just awoke and said good morning.

Harry met Ginny in the Common Room; they walked hand in hand down to breakfast. He couldn't resist smiling at her as he thought of the school's reaction to Mars' return. Halfway to the Great Hall, Harry heard Dumbledore's voice booming throughout the castle.

"Attention students and staff, this is Headmaster Dumbledore and I have an announcement. The funeral for Professor Mars had been canceled because it was very recently discovered that our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher actually escaped alive and has returned to us. Please join us now in the Great Hall for a day

long celebration of his escape, and wish him farewell as he will be leaving for America tomorrow to attend to family matters. Thank you."

Noise erupted around Harry and Ginny as the students were at first shocked and then jubilant. Instantly the crowed doubled their pace and Harry and Ginny were swept up in the festive mood.

The celebration was enormous and raucous. Music magically filled the air, dancing broke out constantly and the smell of food, butterbeer and firewhiskey

permeated every corner of the Great Hall. Harry loved to see the looks on the faces of those who came to attend a funeral, but were instead asked if they wanted to meet the party's guest of honor. Kathy Saunders and Mrs. Weasley both fainted when they realized Mars was before them. Harry and Ginny got to meet many aunts and female cousins of Mars.

Many hours into the party Harry stopped his merry making and pondered the significance of two people: One strangely missing from the party, Hermione, and the other strangely included in the guest list, Kingsley Shacklebolt. Mars was speaking to Kingsley at the moment with his hand on the auror's shoulder. Apparently it was a joke he was telling, because they both suddenly burst into laughter.

"I thought Kingsley didn't care for Mars," said Ron.

"So did I," agreed Harry.

"Fleur," said Ginny to her passing sister-in-law. "When did Kingsley and Mars start being friends?"

"During ze Noel 'oliday. Zey 'ad a long mission together and I guess ze Angel grew on 'eem. What person could spend time with Mars and not like 'eem, I ask you?" said Fleur.

"Just Snape, but he doesn't really count as a person," suggested Harry.

Ginny and Fleur both laughed loudly, but Ron was silent and acting like he was listening to something else. A few seconds later he stood up.

"I have to go for a bit," Ron said as he walked toward the doors.

Harry saw Hermione's head peeking into the room and he tried to gesture for her to come over. However, she quickly backed into the hall when she saw he was looking her way.

Ron

Ron was listening to Fleur when he felt a gentle wind blow on his face. A second later he heard Hermione's voice: "Ron, I know you're enjoying yourself, but I have to talk to you right now. It's urgent."

When the message ended he heard Ginny and Fleur laughing.

"I have to go for a bit," he said and started for the doors.

When Ron arrived in the Entrance Hall, he saw Hermione standing a few feet away looking very serious.

"What's up?" he asked.

She reached out and grabbed his hand with both of hers and pulled him away from the doors.

"Where are we going?" demanded Ron. He forced her to stop after a few feet. "This is our last night to see Mars you know? Why haven't you come in? He's been asking about you every fifteen minutes. Mars wants to see you, Hermione. He really told off Harry and Ginny for -"

"Ron, you must stop thinking about him for a minute," interjected Hermione.

"About Mars -," Ron was saying before Hermione interrupted him by standing on her toes and kissing him on the mouth. The timing of the kiss wasn't the only surprise to Ron - Hermione was kissing him in a way like never before. But why was she doing this now? Ron gently pushed her away from him.

"Hermione, why didn't you answer my question?"

"Oh, Ron," she said desperately. "You have to think about me, please."

She again kissed him passionately. This time also she ran her fingers lovingly through his hair and said his name softly between kisses. This felt very good he thought, and he marveled at how soft the skin of Hermione's neck and face felt. But wasn't he asking a question a second ago?

Hermione released him and looked up into his eyes.

"What are you thinking about now?" she asked.

"Another kiss," he said.

She smiled at him, and then incredibly stepped away.

"I'm sorry to have been so forward," she said.

"Sorry?" thought Ron.

"But I'm not an empath. It was the only way I knew how to get your emotions focused on something else," finished Hermione.

"Something else?" he asked.

"Ron, you have been under an enchantment for the better part of a year. It was a subtle but very strong spell. Sometimes you slipped out of it for a few days,

but you were always re-exposed and again brought under its power," explained Hermione. She stepped up to the doorway and looked into the Great Hall.

"Enchanted for a year? What are you talking about?" asked Ron, joining her at the doorway.

"You have been under the influence of Mars, so have we all - some much more so than others," Hermione said staring at Mars. He had one arm around Harry's shoulders and the other around Ginny as the three of them spoke with a laughing Kerry Saunders.

"What sort of enchantment would Mars put on us? And why?"

"Do you remember the night of our dementor training?" asked Hermione.

Ron nodded.

"When we got back to the Gryffindor Common Room, Padma and I were very distressed that we had done so horribly against the dementors. I was really upset at myself. Mars called us away from the rest of you and put his hands on our shoulders. All of the sadness and doubt flew out of me - the change was instant. He then stared into my eyes and I suddenly felt as if I had learned a lot and would do better next time. He had changed how I felt and what I was thinking, all without using his wand!" said Hermione.

"He did that with Harry and I too, but it was only when we needed help," said Ron defensively.

"No Ron, he does it all the time. It's subconscious, Mars doesn't even know he's doing it," stated Hermione looking back at Mars. He was now dancing with Heather Parkinson and Mary Sue Sladen at the same time - twirling each girl with a hand.

"So you're saying, each time he touches someone, or stares into their eyes, he's charming them? And he doesn't know it?" asked Ron.

Hermione nodded sadly. "He's mentally ill you see. It's his family's curse. Professor Dumbledore told me that he tried very hard when Mars was young to train his mind to protect itself.

"Mars had visions even then and they tore him to pieces mentally. How do you explain to a four year old when he sees someone die in a vision, and then three

days later it happens, that it's not his fault?"

"I dunno, it sounds impossible," said Ron quietly.

"Dumbledore started teaching him Occlumency when Mars was only four. He taught him not only to block others out of his mind, but also to be able to block off parts of his mind from himself. These lessons and Mars' own mental toughness kept him sane as he grew up. Everyone thought he had beaten the family curse.

"But severe stress brought back his illness. His mum's murder pushed him to the edge. When his mentor, Sirius, was framed for the murder of Harry's parents

he went right over it. That's when Dumbledore first thought he started enchanting people to help him," explained Hermione.

"Bill and Charlie?" asked Ron. He was watching Mars sing a song with his two eldest brothers, each with their arms around another's shoulders.

"Yes, Mars helped Bill defeat the glyphs that protected the richest tombs and Bill helped Mars learn to kill dementors and defeat the defenses of Azkaban.

Even after Mars tried to free Sirius, he still then listened to Dumbledore and agreed to surrender. The Minister however, double crossed Dumbledore and sent the aurors to kill Mars, remember?"

Ron nodded.

"Afterward, Mars was furious and demanded that Dumbledore help him overthrow the entire corrupt Ministry and replace it with something more democratic and fair. He wanted a complete social revolution and planned to destroy every last vestige of the old system. There was to be a total reshaping of society," said Hermione shakily.

Ron was in awe. "So Dumbledore refused and then banished Mars to the Spirit Defenders?"

"No," replied Hermione. She reached out a quaking hand for Ron to take. "Dumbledore agreed to help him. He agreed to destroy the Ministry and shake up all of Britain. He was totally under his eighteen-year-old great-grandson's enchantment."

Ron's knees wobbled.

"Dumbledore was talked out of it by the paintings in his office when he told them about his plans that night. He discusses everything with them it seems. The next morning Dumbledore realized he had been charmed. He was terrified that he had been controlled so completely. His love for Mars was great and this weakened his resistance to the enchantment. Dumbledore then devised a way to trick Mars into accepting the banishment. He knew he had to get his grandson away from him," said Hermione. She moved very close to Ron.

"I know how much you like him Ron - we all love Mars. I also know how much he cares for us - I would be dead if not for him putting that note on the Manticore poison beaker." Hermione sniffed sadly. "He's not a bad man at all, he's just flawed and tragically cursed. But please don't go back in there! He's too dangerous, even Dumbledore fears him now. You won't leave his side again if you get near him, I just know it. And right now, I don't want to be alone." Hermione looked up at Ron.

Ron nodded and tried his best not to tremble as he stared into her misty eyes. "Fancy a stroll around the lake?" he asked.

Hermione nodded and they walked out the front doors, never again to see the Angel of Justice.

The End

Epilogue

And the diminished Angel of Justice went back into the West, leaving behind the only land he ever loved. While he was portrayed as the worst kind of villain in the Brititish press, the American papers were equally but oppositely biased. No mention was ever made of his use of Dark Magic, the press there it seems, had only an ear for his heroics.

His victory in the Battle of the Forbidden Forest was described as single handed and his domination of Voldemort was immediately put into the History of Magic textbooks in wizarding schools across the hemisphere. These achievements in combat, coupled with his successful casting of the Death Trap Charm, brought Angel's fame in the West on par with the South. In his birthland he was no longer a hero, but a legend.

It was however, a hallow fame for the Angel. His thoughts were dominated by the bitter loss at the Ministry, the escape of Voldemort and his second banishment. He longed for the return of his strength and to be with his friends and family fighting the war in Britain.

The war was then won and Voldemort finally destroyed for all time. If not for the Alliance and the Defenders all would have been lost. Those of us who know the truth thank our friend Mars everyday for his sacrifice. I will not however, speak of the defeat of Voldemort further, the losses incurred in it are still too dear to my heart.

Steele stayed in England and married Charlie, she even lets me call her Sally now. Two of her sisters, Kathy and Kelly, also stayed. They liked my twin brothers and soon the Weasley and Saunders families were bonded by three sets of wedding vows. The remaining triplet, Kerry, was ordered back to America by Sally to look after the Angel. Her duty as a Saunders woman could not be forgotten.

Mars rarely sent correspondences and he only sent them to myself and my sister. While his strength returned he delved deep into the ancient magics of the Maya and the Aztecs. His letters to me talked of little else. While his words were cheerful, I could feel his pain when I touched the parchment he had wrote upon. The residue of his misery was unmistakable. I longed to help my best friend, but could think of nothing that would.

After three years in exile, Mars wrote to me and said his strength had returned fully and that he was rejoining the Spirit Defenders. He then ordered Kerry to quit watching over him, but she refused. The next morning Charlie found her on his doorstep - here in England! She was tied up and very cranky. Kerry had no idea how she had arrived, but she did have a note from Mars, for Sally. The note thanked his cousins for their concern, but warned them the same treatment was awaiting the next one who tried to protect him.

For two years everything went well for Mars in the Defenders. The constant action and danger distracted his despair and he wrote much more often. But, as it has always been for my cursed friend, tragedy struck again. He and Dumbledore began arguing about the lifting of Mars' banishment. Mars was now strong enough to break the spell, but doing so would injure his venerable grandfather greatly. Dumbledore refused to release his grandson and their correspondance ended with some very harsh words.

Dumbledore approached me for help. He asked if I was interested in traveling to the South to see Mars; he thought a visit from Fleur and I would lift his grandson's spirits. I was for it of course, but the very day my old Headmaster came to visit, a large group of Malsumis spirits escaped containment and attacked a muggle town in Northern Mexico. They killed hundreds of people, including scores of children, and when Mars arrived at the aftermath his anger exploded.

He tracked the spirits down, destroying them as he went and chased the last few back to the temporal hole from which they had emerged. The demons retreated into the Realm of Spirits with Mars in pursuit. For four months he battled the spirits in their own world and soon they all fled to the dark recesses of their realm to escape his rage. Foeless, Mars returned to the Physical world still very angry.

The angry Angel was greated with dreadful news upon his return. His grandfather had died of old age just two days before. Mars' last words to Dumbledore had been of hate and not of the love that he felt so much for the elderly wizard. He would never be able to retract the awful things he said.

As his father had done five years before, Mars chose not to attend the funeral even though Dumbledore's death released him from the banishment. The whole of Britain's wizarding world was in mourning, but that collective sadness paled in comparison to misery of Mars. When his Christmas card arrived at our house, just the sight of it threw my poor Fleur into hysterical sobs. My own eyes flooded with tears every second I read his yule greetings. The anguish radiating from the card was too great for me and I had to drop it onto the floor. From that day forward, all of my spare time was devoted to saving my friend.

I rejected Dumbledore's assertion that Mars was doomed. I also didn't believe it was stress that triggered his illness. He had been fine for years as a Spirit Defender. How more stressful a life could one have?

Mars' discipline and Occulemency skills had improved as he aged. Maybe, I dared hope, that now if he could have some respite from his visions, he could again fight off the curse of his family?

I researched all I could of the Malsumis spirits and their curses. All the sages laughed in my face when I inquired into removing the curse of Pillan. I managed to piece together only two possibilities after years of work: Force Pillan to remove the curse or kill Pillan himself. I was told by all experts that neither would be possible. I, however, was not deterred.

I called together Charlie, Sally and Fleur and told them my idea. I was surprised at how willing to help they were. Our youngest children would be grown in four years so we decided to train until then. Sally taught us her extensive knowledge of the Malsumis spirits and their world, and we sharpened our combat skills. When our youngest son turned eighteen we gave him the house, said our goodbyes and left for Honduras.

I was the only person in whom Mars had entrusted knowlege of his location. He had a mountain house that was located near a muggle village. It was also near the largest permenant gateway between the Physical and Spirit Realms in Central America. The Angel's presence had kept the entrance unused for years. The local muggles did visit him sometimes, so Mars was not too shocked when he noticed people on his porch. He was stunned though, when he opened the door and Fleur threw herself into his arms and kissed him on each cheek.

When he recovered from his shock, Mars did not return our smiles. I grew very worried that we were too late to save him. He wanted to know why we had come. Didn't we remember that he had told Kerry he didn't want anyone looking after him?

I quickly interjected that we weren't there to take care of him, but to help - help him get back his peace. I told him that we had put all of our affairs in order back in England and that all of our children were grown. We had trained hard for four years and we were now ready to follow him into the realm of spirits, enter Pillan's evil abode and force him to remove his curse, kill the him if he refused or die trying. Charlie then added that we weren't going back England until Mars had had a nice nap and then came home with us.

The greatest wizard in the world then fell to his knees and wept like a small child. As the tears fell down his face, I could feel the misery and anguish leaving him. When he rose, I saw the twinkle of hope in his eyes that I had so longed to see. His self-imposed isolation ended as he embraced us all. No empath should ever be alone as he had been.

The four months Mars trained us seemed like old times had returned. He now thinks we're ready, so we are to leave this afternoon. Let it be known to whomever finds this journal that the following oath was sworn today:

We pledge our wands, our honor and our lives to the pursuit of Pillan, until he has agreed to remove his curse, until he is dead or until we, ourselves pershish.

So does swear:

William Weasley

Fleur Weasley

Sally Saunders-Weasley

Charles Weasley

Mordecai Albus Ramon Saunders

Ginny put down the journal.

"Well, I guess I now know where they went. It's been three years since Bill left England, but there's never been a sign of Mars' Morsmiraculumni, so he has to be alive. I don't see Mars letting the others persish either; they must still be chasing or fighting Pillan," thought Ginny.

She sat down on a couch in Mars' living room and opened a chocolate frog package. "Oh look Lily, it's a Angel of Justice card!" She held up the picture. Mars winked at both her and Lily.

"I liked him best with the long hair like Bill's," Ginny said looking around. "This is a nice place isn't it? Why don't we wait for them here? They should have some sort of adoring crowd to greet them when they return from a journey like theirs."